Weight Loss Operations: Duodenal Switch

At the base of the
stomach, a small section of the small intestine (the duodenum) is left behind,
but the remainder is cut. The lower half of the small intestine is then joined
to this small piece of remaining duodenum. As with the bilopancreatic
diversion, bile and pancreatic juices are redirected to the lower part of the
small intestine.

The operation can be performed by keyhole or regular
surgery but it’s extremely complex and can take up to seven hours to complete,
and requires 5-6 days in hospital.

This operation is linked with the greatest weight losses – after two years,
80 percent of people reach a normal weight – but it’s also one of the most
risky operations with 1 in 100 people dying from surgery.

It also has
unpleasant side effects including wind and diarrhoea caused by the malabsorption of fat, although eating a low-fat diet can help to limit this.

Nutrient deficiencies, including protein, iron, zinc, and the fat-soluble
vitamins A, D, E and K, are also more likely and can lead to severe
malnutrition. Supplements therefore need to be taken for the rest of life,
together with a diet that contains twice as much protein as normal.